Tottenham defender Cristian Romero has admitted that adapting to life in the Premier League was initially "hard" for him following his switch from Atalanta. Signed by Fabio Paratici last August, the 24-year-old has already become a firm favourite at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with his no-nonsense displays.
Having to do without him for three months in the middle of last campaign due to a hamstring injury sustained on international duty, his return at the start of February was a pivotal factor in the Lilywhites going on to qualify for the Champions League. Standing out with his big tackles, desire to move forward out of defence and his want to make life incredibly difficult for his opponents, Romero has had to be quite careful at times in games for Spurs due to picking up a yellow card.
A regular in the referee's notebook during his time in Italy, the Argentina international received 11 yellows in all competitions for Tottenham last season. Despite the high number of cautions which left him walking a tightrope at times, he does believe that it has actually helped him how to master playing while on a yellow card.
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“The English league is the best in the world. Adapting is not easy, it was hard for me, but I already feel good and trying to maintain my level," he said in an interview with radio station Como Te Va, as reported by Infobae.
“I live training sessions and matches in the same way. I like to play and train hard. The games and the experience have allowed me to know how to play when I have a yellow card. Last season I only had eight [Premier League] yellow cards and they didn't send me off."
Looking right at home in England, Romero's adaptation to the Premier League may well have been helped by watching a certain top-flight defender. “When I was a boy I used to watch Puyol and Pique's Barcelona a lot. Today I watch van Dijk a lot," he admitted.
Starring on the international stage for Argentina as well as at club level for Tottenham, Romero will be aiming to add to his country's Copa America success by lifting the World Cup in Qatar later on this year. Certainly looking forward to Albiceleste's World Cup campaign, he believes that he is at the best possible club and working under a great manager in Antonio Conte to put him in a great position for the tournament.
"I am very anxious and eager to be in Qatar," said the ex-Atalanta man. "Surely I have many things to improve but I have two coaching staff, in the national team and in Tottenham that teach me a lot.
"I think I found the right club to continue developing after the Copa América and get to the World Cup in the best way. This group generated a beautiful illusion and we all want to win the cup. I speak with colleagues from Germany and Spain and they also want to win it. We have a winning spirit."
This summer has seen Romero join forces with Richarlison following the Brazilian's move to Tottenham from Everton. Enjoying some lively tussles with the attacker in both meetings between the sides last season, the centre-back has stated what happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch.
“With Richarlison they are things that are created in a game, on a court you have fights and they stay there. Now as a teammate we shoot to the same side," he said. "Later, if we face Argentina and Brazil and there are any kicks or words too many, they will also remain on the pitch."
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